Newsletter: June 2016

June 29, 2016

The Language of Social ImpactRishi Moudgil

Language is evolving in our field, and many schools now have centers focused on one of the Social “Is and Es.” While these are undoubtedly being used interchangeably, each term is rooted in a certain frame:

Social Entrepreneur: individual

Social Enterprise: structure

Social Innovation: novelty/process

Social Impact: outcome

We chose our Center’s name to deliberately emphasize the multiple routes towards a desired outcome. We’ve also defined social impact as a significant, positive change that addresses a pressing social challenge. There are a plethora of ways to achieve social impact, and our goal is to expose students to all the above frames, and many more–ranging from philanthropy to social justice, to design thinking and other strategies.

What are your thoughts?

Work Continues after Social Impact Challenge

After this year’s Social Impact Challenge competition was completed, our finalists continued to work with the Detroit Police Athletic League (PAL) staff to execute critical budgeting and alumni outreach projects from the Challenge. This implementation of key concepts is vital to continuing to drive real impact.

Dewayne Jones of PAL said, “The Center’s interns were very complete in adhering to our specs to prepare for our move to the Corner. They are very knowledgeable regarding the budgeting process that was laid out for every area of concern.”

PAL’s Fred Hunter said that students “became an extended part of our staff.” Alexandra Gardner of PAL’s Campaign said, “The students I worked with after the Challenge were invaluable in giving me new, innovative and insightful ways on how Detroit PAL can continue to grow our alumni base. Their work is the foundation of our ongoing plan.”

Finalist Terence Lee (MPP ’16) continues Challenge implementation with PAL this summer as an Alumni and Development intern. Also, special thanks to Nydia Cardenas (MBA ’15) for being an integral part of our partnership all year long!

How you can make a difference for a student entrepreneur!

Kulisha, the Michigan Business Challenge-Social Impact Track winner, led by Eric Katz (BBA ’17), is one of our Social Entrepreneurship Fellows this summer. Eric is in Africa, building his business to produce a low-cost, high-quality sustainable fish feed made from insects for use on aquaculture farms in Kenya. Eric can use your help: “We need to raise $12K so we can lease a plot of land near our supplier and the majority of Kenyan fish farmers. I would also love to connect with any U-M alumni:

that live in Kenya or know its agricultural sector;

know breweries or beer manufacturing;

know waste collection and diversion;

and anyone familiar with aquaculture or animal feeds.”

Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you can help with any of these items at erickatz@umich.edu!

CARt is a Michigan Business Challenge-Social Impact Track finalist coordinating rides for low-income, low-vehicle-access individuals to get to and from supermarkets so they have increased access to healthy, affordable food. Stacey Matlen (MPH ’16) is another Social Entrepreneurship Fellow this summer, and she is seeking technical assistance to help automate operations for a fall pilot in Detroit.

Please reach out if you have experience developing personal technology for diverse populations in the context of food justice and/or mobility initiatives and can advise or support this work! Email Stacey at matlesta@umich.edu.

Alumni Spotlight: Kevin Shaw, MAEd ’11, MBA ’11

The Center for Social Impact provides funds for Ross MBAs or BBA juniors looking for unique, high-level, paid summer internships in mission-driven organizations through its Impact Corps program. Kevin Shaw received one of these internships, and served in our Board Fellowship program.

Read how Kevin used his internship experience to land a social impact career as Finance Director for KIPP: New Jersey.

Tanya Upthegrove Graduates from Leadership Detroit Program

Congratulations to Student Program Director, Tanya Upthegrove as she recently completed the Leadership Detroit program led by the Detroit Regional Chamber. This 10-month transformational leadership program creates awareness of key issues impacting the Detroit region, and drives community leaders to bring about positive change. Leadership Detroit’s Class XXXVII included 69 executives representing a cross-section of the community, including business, organized labor, government, education, media, civic groups, health services and community organizations.

Welcome New Dean of Michigan Ross School of Business
Professor Scott DeRue

The Center for Social Impact is pleased to welcome Scott DeRue as the new dean of Ross! We look forward to a great collaboration with him.

Only nine days remain for Southeast Michigan Nonprofits to submit applications for the 2016-17 program year. See our webpage for complete application requirements.

Submit application packages or request further information fromsocialimpact@umich.edu. Deadline is Thursday, June 30 at midnight.

The Call of the Open Road

Two teams of Ross students travelled the country this May, visiting entrepreneurs and helping them solve business challenges. This program, sponsored in part by the Center for Social Impact, has generated a lot of great experiences and stories and provided action-based learning opportunities. These have been shared on the web through various media. To read about their experiences, click on the links below:

Ford School of Public Policy Releases Report on Dow Sustainability Partners

Final reports from the Ford School’s 2015 Dow Sustainability Fellows are now available, and they include two students we have supported: Mark Kroening (MPP, MBA ’17) and Mohamed Elamin Abbadi (MPP ’17).

The Michigan Nonprofit Association hosts a variety of events across the state along with webinars covering a range of key topics in the nonprofit sector. You can network with others in the sector and learn more about everything from branding and fundraising strategies to advocacy and policymaking.

Forming a nonprofit organization requires more than passion. You need to have an understanding of financial management, knowledge of legal requirements, managerial skills, trends within the industry, community relations and more. This session, sponsored by NEW, is hosted in Detroit and provides you with the basics.

The UM-Flint Community Impact Fund has been created in response to the water crisis facing the city of Flint. Our faculty, staff, students, alumni, friends, community partners, and donors from across the country are responding to this public health emergency.